Shoe last



C. K. MaCDONALD Masch H 1924.

Y Filed April 5, 1922 nml Patented Mar, li, lt.

CLIFFORD KIR-BY IIAGDONALD, GF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHGE LAST.

Application led April 3,

.To @ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CLIFFORD KIRBY ltLicDoNALD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident of Brockton, 'Plymouth County, State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ShoeLasts, of which the following is a specification.

IThis invention relates to shoe lasts adapted to be used in themanufacture of shoes, and has particular' reference to that class oflasts, in which the toe part is hingedly connected to the heel portion,so that the two sections may be moved with respect to each other inorder that the last as a whole may be easily inserted into or withdrawnfrom a shoe.

in important object of the invention is to generally improve the variouselements entering into the last embodying my invention, the improvementsbeing directed particularly to the hinge mechanism by which the toe andheel sections are connected together, with a view of reducing the costof production of the last and facilitating the assembly of the severalcomponent parts thereof.

@ther objects and certain advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmental sectional view o`f a last embodying myinvention, the last sections being shown as extended.

Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, the last sections beingshown as collapsed.

Figure 3 is longitudinal sectional view taken on the lines 3-3 of Figure1.

In the drawings wherein is shown what l at present consider thepreferred form of my invention, the numeral 5 indicates a heel portion,which is at its forward end tapered downwardly and rearwardly, andprovided with an upwardly extending opening 6, into which is fitted ametallic bushing 7, the

' metallic bushing 7 being adapted to receive a suitable supportingelement such as is ordinarily used for supporting lasts of this type.The heel portion 5 is also provided with a longitudinally extending boreor passage 8, into which is fitted a sleeve 9, adapted to receive anelongated shank 10, which at its forward end, carries an angularlydisposed arm 11, having an opening 12 formed therein. The shank 10 isre- 1922. Serial No. 548,932.

tained in position within the sleeve 9 by means of a transverselydisposed pin 13, which is passed through the heel section 5, as mostclearly shown in Figure 3.

The shank 10 and the angularly disposed arm 11 together form a hingedmember, to which is pivotally connected a second hinge member 14. Thelatter named hinge member 14; comprises a pair of sections 15, whichterminate at their rear ends in locking plates 1G having more or lessinherent resiliency. The hinge section 14 is pivctally connected to theshank 10 by means of a transversely disposed rivet 17, which is passedthrough the plates 16 ,and shank 10, which is disposed intermediate theplates 16.

The shanks 15 are arranged within a sleeve 18 which is carried within arecess 19, formed in the toe portion 20. As a means for retaining theShanks 15 within the sleeve 13, there is provided a transverselydisposed pin 21, which is passed through the sleeve 18, the shanks 15and the toe part 2O of the last.

From the above description, it is apparent that the heel portion 5 andthe toe portion 2O of the last are so connected that one of thesesections may be hingedly moved with respect to the other, from theposition shown in Figure 1 to that of Figure 2. While the sections 5 and20 are extended, it is desirable to so lock them in their respectivepostions that they may be retained extended while the last is beingoperated upon, as in the manufacture of shoes. To edectively retainthese sections in their extended positions l provide a locking ball 22,which is fitted into the opening 12 formed in the angularly disposed arm11 and adapted to partially enter a registered opening 23, formed in oneof the plates 16, as most clearly shown in Figure 3. By reason of theinherent resiliency of the plates 16 and their intimate relation withrespect to the ball 22, it is evident that the heel section 5 and thetoe portion 20 of the last may be more or less rigidly locked in theirrespective extended positions when the ball 22 is seated within theopening 23, as shown in Figure 3.

lt is also desirable to temporarily lock the sections 5 and 2O in theirrespective collapsed positions when the last is broken, to'

shaped slot 24, into Which the ball 22 is adapted to partially enterwhen the section 2O is so moved With respect to the heel section 5 as tocause the ball 22 to dislodge itself from its seated position Within theopening 23. It may be remarked thatas the ball 22 nieves from theopening 23, the plates 16, by reason of their resiliency, are permittedto separate a suflicient distance to allow the ball 22 to travel fromits position shown in Figure 3 to that shoWnin Figure 2.

From a study of the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it is apparent that a last constructed inaccordance With my invention embodies certain desirable features Whichtend to lend rigidity to the structure as a mits the device, as a Whole,to be easily assembled and eliminates, to a degree, a certain amount ofaccuracy and precision Which has heretofore been necessary in themanufacture of similar lasts, in order that the finished articles mightproperly function under the various conditions of use to which they aresubjected.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In a shoe last, a heel section having an opening formed therein, a toesection having an opening formed therein, a sleeve arranged Witliin theopening of said heel section, a sleeve arranged Within the opening ofsaid toe section, a shank secured Within the sleeve of said heelsection, an arm carried by said shank, a second shank secured Within thesleeve of said toe section, thc latter named shank being provided Withresilient plates having openings formed therein, and a locking ballcarried by said arm, said locking ball being adapted to enter theopenings of said resilient plates to retain said heel and toe sectionsin either extended e or collapsed positions.

In testimony whereof, I have affixed my signature to this specification.

CLIFFORD KIRBY MACDONALD.

